Chapter 9 - THE TRAP
Marcus asked to see me.
I refused.
Then he sent a message.
You need to hear what Pierce did to Dad.
I almost ignored it.
But there was one sentence underneath.
I know who ordered his death.
I agreed.
The meeting took place in a federal interview room.
Marcus looked exhausted.
No expensive suit.
No confidence.
Just a man who had finally realized money couldn't save him.
He sat across from me.
"I know you hate me."
"I don't hate you."
He looked surprised.
"I wish I did."
His eyes filled with tears.
"Mom..."
"Tell me."
He lowered his head.
"Pierce ordered Dad's death."
"How?"
"He didn't directly."
"Then who?"
Marcus swallowed.
"Me."
My heart broke.
"You?"
"I didn't kill him."
"Then what did you do?"
"I gave Pierce the information."
"What information?"
"Where Dad kept the trust documents."
I closed my eyes.
"Why?"
"Because I wanted the money."
He began crying.
"I thought he'd scare Dad. I thought he'd make him sign."
"But he died."
"Yes."
"How?"
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
He looked at me.
"I went back that night."
"And?"
"Dad was alive."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"He was barely conscious."
"Why didn't you call an ambulance?"
"I panicked."
"Marcus."
"I called Pierce."
Silence.
"What did he do?"
"He came."
"What happened?"
Marcus stared at the table.
"He injected Dad."
I couldn't breathe.
"What did he inject?"
"I don't know."
"Why?"
"Because Dad refused to tell him where the access plans were."
I closed my eyes.
Daniel had been alive.
He had been conscious.
And my son had watched him die.
Then Marcus said something I never expected.
"Dad forgave me."
I looked up.
"What?"
"He knew what I'd done."
"And?"
"He told me he still loved me."
I felt tears fall.
Marcus whispered:
"That's why I couldn't sleep."
For the first time, I saw the child buried beneath the man.
But forgiveness did not erase consequences.
I stood.
"I loved you too."
He looked up.
"I know."
"And that's why what you did hurts more than anything."
He nodded.
"I know."
Then the door opened.
Reed entered.
"We need to talk."
He placed a document on the table.
"Pierce has offered a deal."
Marcus frowned.
"What deal?"
"Immunity."
"For what?"
"Evidence against the people above him."
I stared.
"People above Pierce?"
Reed nodded.
"Pierce isn't the top."
My stomach tightened.
"Who is?"
"We don't know yet."
Marcus looked terrified.
"Then we're all in danger."
Reed looked at him.
"Why?"
Marcus whispered:
"Because Pierce answers to someone."
"Who?"
Marcus looked at me.
"The governor."
Silence.
I stared at him.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Mom, I swear."
Reed frowned.
"Which governor?"
Marcus gave the name.
The room went silent.
The governor was publicly known as one of the biggest supporters of agricultural conservation.
He had visited my farm.
He had shaken my hand.
He had stood beside me after Daniel's death.
And he had publicly praised our family.
Marcus continued.
"Pierce wasn't buying the water for himself."
"Then who?"
"The state."
I looked at Reed.
"Why?"
Marcus answered.
"Because they want to privatize the reservoir."
The pieces connected.
A government contract.
Blackridge.
Shell companies.
My farm.
My children.
Daniel's death.
My attempted poisoning.
Everything led back to the same plan.
But Marcus wasn't finished.
"There is one person who can stop them."
"Who?"
He looked at me.
"You."
"How?"
"The trust."
I shook my head.
"I don't control it."
"You do."
"No."
Marcus leaned closer.
"Dad left you the controlling interest."
I stared.
"Where?"
He smiled sadly.
"Under the farmhouse."
I froze.
"There's another room."
He nodded.
"Behind the fireplace."
The federal team searched the farmhouse.
Behind the old stone fireplace, they found a hidden panel.
Inside was a safe.
The combination was my birthday.
I opened it.
Inside was one document.
Only one.
It was titled:
THE WHITAKER WATER TRUST.
At the bottom was Daniel's signature.
And mine.
But there was something else.
A handwritten note.
Eleanor — when the time comes, choose people over money.
I cried.
Because Daniel had known exactly what I would do.
I would protect the water.
Not sell it.
Not privatize it.
Not turn it into another fortune.
Protect it.
And that's when Pierce called.
He had one final demand.
"Come to the farm alone."
May you like
His voice was calm.
"If you don't, Rachel dies."
